Latest / Scene Projects Sports Network / Sixers Chemistry, LeBron’s New Role and Wemby-Chet Tension

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Sixers Chemistry, LeBron’s New Role and Wemby-Chet Tension · Scene Projects Sports Network

0:36
Welcome into the scene project sports network.
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I'm your host, Bubba Starts.
0:40
You are here tonight for the rim report.
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I am joined as always by my cohost and star of the show, Selly Anahoro.
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What's good, Selly?
0:50
What's up, Bubba?
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NBA season starting.
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WNBA finals going on.
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College teams are scrimmaging.
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This is a great time of year for basketball.
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Yeah.
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It's awesome.
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I'm glad it's finally here.
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My my education, on the changes that have happened since I tuned out of the NBA a decade
1:08
ago, are...
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Is complete now.
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I know what the second apron is.
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I know that the Knicks won the NBA championship last summer, and then they had their banner
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raising ceremony spoiled last night live by LeBron and the Sixers.
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So I feel like I'm all caught up.
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I'm ready now to to get into this season and to, tune in to some really great NBA action and
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WNBA finals off to a hot start series tied.
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One one game three starting momentarily if they haven't tipped off already.
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Yeah.
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They're about to tip-off in the, like, maybe five minutes.
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But like you said, Knicks got their party spoiled last night by LeBron and the sixers.
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Interest, great performance by the sixers in my opinion.
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Well...
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And I commented on it as we were chatting last night, on tailgate.
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And, you know, I just...
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The quick look at the stats.
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Right?
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And I didn't find that anything was really standing out as far as the stars of the sixers.
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LeBron didn't play all that well, neither did Joel Embiid, but they still win by six.
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So, obviously, something was working.
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This new look sixers team, I'm sure are going to continue to gel as the season goes on and I
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think have to be, you know, early on, feeling like they're probably gonna be favorites in a
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lot of the games they're gonna play.
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Yeah.
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Honestly, people didn't play well.
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Offense, it's it's...
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Basketball is kinda like football.
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The defenses are gonna be ahead of the offense as the players are getting the rhythm.
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Two things stood out to me, though.
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One thing I watched for the whole game was the sixers chemistry, obviously, because I think
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that's gonna be, like, maybe the number one storyline in the season this year for
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basketball.
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Just how will those five players gel.
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And it honestly looks pretty good for a bunch of great players who are playing together for
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the first time.
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They didn't look like anybody was overshooting.
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It didn't look like anybody was hesitant.
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It kinda just looked like they just flowed, and they just played as if they've been playing for
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years, and nobody nobody was selfish.
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Everybody played well.
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Maxey got his shots up.
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Jalen Brown got his shots.
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LeBron, I think, took a step back, which is a pretty good sign.
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Like, he kinda just, like, wants to be the point guard.
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He dished the ball out a lot.
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Joel Embiid was in...
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Looked like he was in great shape.
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He looked like he lost a lot of weight.
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And he's gonna be the key to the season, honestly.
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If he can stay healthy and he can stay in shape and he can beat the Joel Embiid from maybe not
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a couple years ago, but a little close to it.
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I mean, he was making some great plays on defense as well, making a real impact on the
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game.
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If they play, like, the way they played yesterday without, like, really having the full
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rhythm of playing a lot of games yet, they're gonna be the favorite in the East, in my
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opinion.
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Even though I still think the Knicks deserve to be the favorite right now as the defending
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champs, if the Sixers can get it together with the talent they have in their starting five,
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plus they got great contributions from their from their bench last night too with Anthony
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Simons and Contavious Caldwell Pope.
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And, like, Dean Wade still isn't playing.
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I I think they're gonna be a tough out in the East.
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Yeah.
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Some stats from last night.
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Tyrese Maxey, 28 points, five assists, three steals, and three blocks.
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Not a bad stat line on opening night.
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Jaylen Brown added nineteen and eight rebounds with the six assists.
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LeBron just the 14 points, but, you know, nine rebounds and seven assists for him.
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And playing some minutes at center, which, I mean, obviously, he's physically able to body
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some of these guys up and slow down, you know, Karl Anthony Towns for the sixers.
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I I think that's a big part of LeBron's game is that he can he can be your point guard or he
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can be your big man in the paint and and kinda play all over the floor and not at any point
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feel like he's outmatched.
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Definitely having that, you know, been in the league for twenty plus years savvy and being
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able to play against guys that are...
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You know, I...
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Even...
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What?
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He's what?
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Six eight.
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Right?
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So even a seven footer isn't that much taller than he is, and and it...
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The guy can jump out of the building still at 40 years old.
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It's insane.
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Yeah.
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I mean, if last night is a sign of things to come, it looks like...
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Because I...
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I've always thought LeBron was the smartest player in the league, and he'll do what...
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Whatever is necessary for the team to win.
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And I think at this stage of his career, even he might have noticed that, like, he can't
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shoot as much as he might want to, and he probably shouldn't, honestly.
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He kinda has to save his body for the for the postseason and pace himself even more than he
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ever has, and he has all this talent around him offensively that he kinda can just run the show
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maybe, like, Magic Johnson style.
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And I'd...
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If I'm a Sixers fan or if I'm in the organization, I'd rather him be the point guard
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for the season instead of, like, wanting to be, like, the number one or number two option.
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Because if we're being honest, at this stage of his career, there's multiple players who are
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just better than him or at least younger than him, and they should be the ones taking the
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shots and playing most of the minutes and the...
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Playing most of the games in the...
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During the regular season.
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Yeah.
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Instead of being the star sitting back and being one of the glue guys for this team, I I
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think that makes the sixers even more powerful.
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And maybe that's, you know, LeBron, and part of the decision is to look at this team that is
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obviously, you know, on the rise and has the championship aspirations, but lacks a little
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bit of that.
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They have the star power.
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They have guys that they can go to that can play at a high level, but they need somebody
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that can be the one that fills all the gaps.
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If an Embiid gets into foul trouble, you know, do you have someone that can now go in and
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still be effective on the offensive side of the court and to be a threat at any point to score?
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I I mean, he's no slouch even at 40 years old.
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Right.
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You could tell at one point in the third in the third quarter, he had his mini run where it
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was, like, eight straight points.
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Even though it was only 14, he had, like, eight straight points of, like, fast break, layups,
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dunks.
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So he still he still can turn it on when he wants to in a way.
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And I think his impact is gonna be even bigger off the court.
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He's always been known for being the hardest worker on his team, showing up early, being the
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first person in the gym.
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And I...
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It had a big effect on Luca Dontage last year.
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And, like, it...
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You just can't have this 41 year old guy working harder than you.
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It's just a bad look.
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And I think whether it just motivates them or they just don't wanna be embarrassed, I think
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it'll have a great impact on somebody like Joel Embiid who...
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Whether it's true or not, he does...
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If he takes care of his body or not, I I don't know.
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But, like, he's gonna have to if he's gonna be around LeBron on a day to day basis.
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He...
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He's gonna look at that look at LeBron and be like, I have to match this guy's energy every
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single day.
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I think there's something to that.
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For a man of Joel Embiid's size and, you know, the the way that he can play ball that you
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don't have to give it a 110.
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Right?
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Not every day showing up.
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You can show up and play three quarter speed and still be better than 90% of the people out
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there.
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So to have someone like LeBron who's been the best, since he's really entered the league,
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he's been one of the top players, you know, and especially for the last ten, fifteen years
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being, you know, the the top the top player in the league that to see him show up and work
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every day, light a little bit of a fire.
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And and not that LeBron has to go and get in his face about it or do anything, but more of
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being like the older brother saying, hey, man.
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Come...
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Like, meet me at the gym.
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You know?
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Don't meet me there.
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Beat me there.
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And be there working, and let's see how great you can be.
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Let's see how far you can take this team when you start to show up and work that extra bit
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harder and and put that in.
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And it sounds like it's already had an effect, you know, through the summer, dropping some
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weight, getting in a little bit better shape.
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We know LeBron takes really good care of his body off the court as well.
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Maybe there's some changes in eating and sleeping habits and and recovery that can help
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a a younger player out.
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I won't say that, you know, Joel Embiid is a young player.
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Right?
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He's he's been in the league for long enough to know better, but you don't know what you don't
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know either.
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And I think that having a mentor like LeBron on the team, it it adds an it factor to, to the
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sixers off the court as much as it does on the court.
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Yeah.
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Like you said, I think leading by example or even just, like, showing him the ropes, I just
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think it will be huge on Joel Embiid if he takes it seriously because I know Luca did last
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year or at least the last two years seems a little...
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It...
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Luca was always a great player, but I think being around LeBron just made him wanna get in
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better shape and just wanna be a better player because he he sees the results.
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And I just think when you're around somebody like LeBron, it just it just motivates you.
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I mean, another thing I was looking out to, this might be kind of funny, but it's kinda
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true.
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LeBron is known for his signature handshakes he has with all his teammates, and he already has
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them all with with all his new Sixers teammates.
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So it's a it's a big thing for me with the chemistry thing.
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He's got his handshakes ready with all his guys.
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And he...
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LeBron is known for having, like, a great memory too.
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Like, he can remember, like, handshakes with teammates from, like, ten years ago.
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Like, I I just think it's always important.
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I think he's a great leader.
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I I know Jaylen Brunson won the poll for best leader in the NBA by GMs, which I think is
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fair.
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But I I still think LeBron is, like, up there.
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If he's not number one, he's top...
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He's number two or number three.
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I don't know how you would even do that.
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I I don't remember names of people that I worked with ten years ago, much less to
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remember the handshake that we had.
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I've never been a big secret handshake guy, but, you know, that's his thing, has been his
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thing for a long time.
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I think it's super cool.
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And, yeah, a a huge shout out to the sixers starting off the season on the right foot.
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You know?
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I don't know if it was all the sixers, though, either.
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When you look at the, way that New York played, and even their coach alluded to it is, you
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know, if you play if you play that way, it doesn't matter who is on the other side of the
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court from you.
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You're not gonna win a lot of games shooting 37.2.
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Right?
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How do you say?
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Anun...
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Anunobi?
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Yeah.
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OG Anunobi.
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OG Anunobi.
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That sounds like a Star Wars character.
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One first nine from three point, Bridges with just four points, Brunson, Chimpan, the 21.
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But on six of 19 shooting, you just can't win a lot when you're, you know, giving up
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possessions like that, and especially if a lot of them are going one and done and you're not
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on the offensive glass.
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Right.
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Not a great night by the Knicks shooting wise.
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Jaylen Brunson have a great night shooting.
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Normally, I was I was waiting for him to come up in the clutch because it's his thing to be
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clutch, obviously.
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He didn't really show up in the clutch last night.
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It's banner night, and this kinda happens from year to year with, like, when they, unveil the
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banner and they get...
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Players get their rings.
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For whatever reason, a lot of the energy is used by the crowd, by the players in the
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pregame ceremony, and sometimes they have, like, nothing left for the game.
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So I'm I'm not saying that was the reason.
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I'm just saying, like, it's been a trend.
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I remember when I was a kid in 2007...
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2006, the Miami heat got destroyed by the bulls on ring night.
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It's one of those famous gifts of Alonzo Mourning when he's shaking his head on the
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bench.
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So it's, like, one of the most famous gifts, like, out there.
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And then that was from when they lost.
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So, like, that was, like, the first moment I remember something like banner night really,
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oh, it's it's not always, like, an amazing celebration.
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Like, it always be a a beat down if you're not careful.
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I think, though, that they're resilient.
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Andre Drummond had a big impact on the game, which is pretty big because I was wondering how
14:20
they were gonna replace Mitch...
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And I think a lot of fans were wondering how they were gonna replace Mitchell Robinson.
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And Andre Juman honestly looks the same and probably had more impact offensively with
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catching lobs and just looks like a better player, at least offensively last night.
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So maybe...
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Because they brought back their entire team.
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And, normally, you have to worry sometimes with championship teams about the dreaded Pat Riley
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disease of me, which is, like, everybody wanting...
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After winning a championship, everybody going in their own direction.
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However, I think with the Villanova connection with Josh, Jalen, Mikhail, and then OG having,
15:00
like, low ego, I just think this team is gonna be, like, pretty good, and I think last night
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was an outlier.
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I think they'll be ready to go as the season starts, as the season gets going.
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Yeah.
15:13
I mean, they shot that poorly and only lost by six.
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Right, and scored over a 100 points.
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So it's not like they played awful.
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They just didn't play up to a level that I think, they're setting that standard with.
15:27
And we're gonna get a chance to see these two teams meet up again on October 30 in Philly.
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I think that's probably a better measuring stick for where both of these teams are at
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after you've had, you know, a week and a half of the season going, more so than last night
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with the banner raising an emotional night for a lot of these guys that are still on the team,
15:48
you know, receiving the rings and and really celebrating a season that was and maybe not
15:54
being fully invested in the season that is now here.
15:57
No doubt the data kinda backs that up, and, you know, it's a it's a long season.
16:03
So not putting too much stock into it, but the fact that the sixers played as well as they did
16:10
and and found a fit and didn't play necessarily lights out on their end either.
16:15
Right?
16:15
We we talked about, you know, some of the the stars of this team not having some of their
16:20
best performances.
16:21
So I I I think a a nice start to what I think can be a really awesome rivalry this year, and
16:29
who knows what happens when it comes down to the playoffs.
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And and hopefully, teams are meeting again, playing some really meaningful ball come the
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spring.
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Yeah.
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These two teams, I'm gonna be looking forward to just watching them the whole season.
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If they're playing next Friday, it's probably gonna be the start of the end season
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tournament.
16:51
So if they are, that's gonna be pretty good because it's gonna mean something.
16:56
So, like, these games are gonna be important already, but, like, they're gonna be playing
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hard to begin with.
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But, yeah, I I can't wait.
17:03
I think they're the top...
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They're gonna be the top two teams favorite in the East.
17:08
Now we're...
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I...
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We're gonna see if any other teams emerge throughout the season.
17:13
If the the Pistons had a pretty good one yesterday, I I still think the Raptors might be
17:18
a surprise team to watch out for.
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But I I think as of right now, the Knicks and the Sixers are the top two favorites to come
17:25
out of the East.
17:27
Yeah.
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And, Selly, I...
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While we're on that, do you think there's any of the, you know, kind of upstart teams and
17:36
anybody that can make some noise in the East that we're not necessarily talking about?
17:41
I know my bulls are tipping off right now against the raptors here shortly.
17:46
Do either one of those teams intrigue you and anybody else that we're not thinking of right
17:52
now?
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I mean, the bulls with Caleb Wilson will have my attention this year for sure.
17:58
He was probably my favorite player in college last year, and I I think the Bulls got a really
18:04
good player, I think he's gonna be a great player in this league.
18:07
I think maybe an upstart team and, like, people or folk...
18:11
I mean, they got a little bit...
18:12
They got a lot of attention last year because of how fun their style play was, but I think
18:16
the Hornets...
18:17
The Charlotte Hornets now, even though they traded LaMelo out, I still think there's a lot
18:22
of Youngtown on the team.
18:24
And, like, they added Nas Reed.
18:26
They they added some good talent.
18:28
Their coach is really good, a good young coach.
18:31
Brandon Miller, good young player.
18:33
I really think they have a chance to jump into the top six this year, get out of the plane,
18:40
and make some noise with, another year of development from their young players.
18:45
Awesome.
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WNBA finals going on right now.
18:50
The Dream and the Valkyries game three series is tied at one.
18:56
Dream off to an early run.
18:58
It's six zero about a few minutes into the first quarter there.
19:04
Selly, I know you picked the Valkyries to take this series.
19:09
Do you feel like the dream after kinda stealing one in in the Bay Area?
19:15
Do you think they give themselves a chance to come back and really make some noise in this
19:20
finals?
19:21
Yeah.
19:22
I mean, there...
19:23
This series has been, like, a rock fight, basically.
19:26
I love to call these games rock fights, these defensive battles.
19:30
It's a flashback to the nineties NBA.
19:33
Not a lot of offense, a lot of defense in the...
19:37
If off...
19:38
If you love defense, this is a series for you.
19:41
Both teams haven't really shot it well.
19:45
Like, this is how the Valkyries live.
19:47
They haven't allowed a 100...
19:48
They've allowed a 100 points to an opponent just once, and that was game two in the first
19:53
round to the Dallas Wings.
19:55
So they typically play like this.
19:58
The dreamer used to...
19:59
They average, like, 90 points a game in the regular season, so they're typically not used
20:03
to playing like this.
20:05
I I still think...
20:07
I still like the Valkyries.
20:08
I still like my pick.
20:10
I I would prefer they shot better, and I think they will shoot better eventually.
20:14
I mean, they haven't...
20:14
They gotten off to a good start right now, but I think eventually, they will shoot better.
20:20
Gabby Williams, their best player, hasn't had a...
20:24
Had an okay game one.
20:26
I mean, had a really good game one if you just watch the game even though her numbers
20:30
wouldn't, like, back it up.
20:32
And then she didn't shoot it well at all in game two.
20:36
I just think, eventually, their offense will catch up because they're gonna hold...
20:41
They're gonna just play great defense the whole series.
20:44
And I I think, eventually, like I said, their offense will catch up.
20:49
Well, it's gonna be really interesting to see how the rest of this game goes.
20:53
We'll be keeping an eye on it while we're live tonight.
20:56
Get some live score updates as we go.
21:00
And, yeah, excited to see the whole league continue to grow over there.
21:06
I I hope this series goes to seven.
21:08
The more airtime they can get and really good basketball that the w can get, I I think is all
21:15
the better.
21:15
I I wanna see that game grow as, you know, as someone who has a daughter and is very
21:21
invested, with some other people that, care a lot about that game and growing it for women.
21:29
I wanna see it do better, and I wanna see it kinda ride the momentum that it has right now.
21:35
So we'll definitely be keeping an eye on the game and the rest of the series as we go.
21:41
And we'll see we'll see what more we can what more we can do coverage wise with the w, not
21:49
just in the finals here, but moving into next season as well.
21:54
Yeah.
21:54
I I mean, it's gonna be a really good season.
21:57
I mean, a good series.
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Just great players on both sides, great defensive players on both sides, really good
22:05
coaching.
22:07
The atmosphere in Golden State was unbelievable the last two games.
22:13
And like you said, I'm really hoping that this gives them another platform in order to
22:18
increase their coverage just to get more publicity out there.
22:27
Yep.
22:27
I love it.
22:29
I love it.
22:30
I think it's gonna be great.
22:32
And, yeah, we we have a, we have a lot to get to, and a lot to look forward to with the w and
22:41
more and more.
22:42
Sorry.
22:42
I'm going through and and jumping in a bunch of NBA groups right now and, making sure we got
22:50
somewhere to promote this and some more NBA fans to bring in as we continue to grow this
22:56
channel.
22:57
Something that gets a little bit underrated on our end is is how we promote the show and how
23:02
we've been growing all of the different shows on this channel.
23:05
And a big part of that are, you know, groups on Facebook in different places where we can reach
23:09
out to people and not necessarily just relying on an algorithm to put us in front of the right
23:14
eyeballs.
23:14
So, excited to continue to share this show, not just with you, Selly, as much as I appreciate
23:20
it, but getting some people in the chat, like our guy, Barbara, who taps in with us every
23:24
week.
23:24
We haven't seen him yet tonight, but I'm sure he'll be here before long.
23:28
Third kind of talking point that we had at least on for tonight was the Thunder taking on
23:34
San Antonio last night in San Antonio, a repeat of the Western Conference final last year, and
23:41
the Thunder get their revenge.
23:43
Held, Held Wemby to one of 13 shooting.
23:48
Have the Thunder discovered something, or do you think it's just a matter of that kind of
23:53
hangover and that first game of the season?
23:57
Well, it's interesting.
23:58
Right?
23:58
Rivalry renewed,
24:00
I have here in my notes.
24:02
Game...
24:02
Or game eight as people were calling it.
24:04
It it depends who you ask because there are people who believe Jalen Williams was healthy
24:09
last year.
24:09
They would have won the the playoff series last year instead of the Spurs.
24:14
So it depends.
24:15
So this isn't a shock to some people.
24:18
I I don't think either way it would have been a shock even though the Spurs did take, like...
24:23
I think they won, like, five of the games in the regular season last year and beat...
24:28
Then beat them in the postseason.
24:29
So I still think, though, the Thunder, they're a great team, obviously, championship team.
24:36
There are a lot of...
24:37
This probably probably was my favorite game last night out of the three.
24:41
There's just a lot of different storylines in there.
24:44
Like I said, rivalry renewed.
24:46
You got D'Aaron Fox just completely shoving Chet Holmgren to the ground, and then,
24:50
basically, a mini scuffle is happening.
24:55
I don't think...
24:55
You're definitely not aware of this.
24:57
I don't think.
24:58
Are you aware of the Chet, Wemby rivalry?
25:01
I am not.
25:02
No.
25:03
Enlighten me, Sully.
25:05
Alright.
25:05
Here we go.
25:06
Lesson number two.
25:08
After talking second apron last week, we're gonna we're gonna talk about Chet and Wemby.
25:13
So, basically, for those who don't know, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wemby and Yama have a
25:19
history of playing basketball all the way from their FIBA u nineteen days up until now.
25:27
The thing is, though, after listening to some interviews, I don't even know if it's a
25:32
rivalry.
25:32
I think Wenby just hates Chet.
25:34
I don't think Chet actually has any bad blood against Wenby.
25:38
However, it's...
25:39
The problem is Wenby has made it his life's mission to destroy Chet Holmgren at every turn.
25:45
And this started, people believe, because when they were teenagers, USA played France when
25:53
they were both teenagers, and Chet Holmgren beat Wemby's team in the finals, in the U
26:00
FIFA...
26:00
U nineteen finals.
26:02
And there's a famous picture of them on, like, the podium as, like, teenagers.
26:06
And, like, Chet just there with, like, all his awards from winning it.
26:09
And I think Wimby, from this moment on, it was like his, like, villain origin story kinda.
26:17
He was like, this guy will fail whenever I'm around.
26:21
So literally, whenever he plays Chet, it's it's personal.
26:26
And I think because the team...
26:29
Wenby is the leader of the Spurs.
26:30
The team took...
26:31
Takes on his personality.
26:33
So, like, the team doesn't like Chet in my opinion either.
26:36
I think...
26:36
Because he doesn't like Chet.
26:38
It's like we don't like Chet either.
26:41
Last year in the in the tournament...
26:46
In the regular season tournament, when he was...
26:49
When Chet was shooting free throws and he was missing them, Wenby was cheering from the foul
26:53
line.
26:54
Like, he was just cheering when they when they were in the...
26:58
When the...
26:58
Chet was at the free throw line.
27:00
Then you fast forward to the postseason, and Chet just basically melted down in the in the
27:06
series because Wenby just destroyed him when he was guarding him on offense, defense, and just
27:13
made Chet's life miserable to the point where people were legitimately asking if Chet
27:19
Holmgren could, like, recover from this.
27:22
Like, they were saying, like, is this his, like, Nick Anderson moment?
27:26
Well, we're like...
27:27
Or, like, Clyde Drexler going up against Jordan in '92 where it's like, can he recover from
27:32
this?
27:33
And, like, we we still don't know.
27:35
We we have to watch.
27:37
But it's a little background in the chat, Wendy, origins.
27:44
It's more fascinating once you, like, know about it, then you're like, oh, then it's like,
27:51
this this makes this more interesting to watch.
27:54
Yeah.
27:54
I mean, no doubt.
27:55
I I think those rivalries within the team rivalries, no different than an Isaiah Thomas
28:03
and, you know, Jordan or Jordan and Barkley or Jordan and Ewing or Jordan.
28:12
Everybody, nobody likes playing against the man.
28:15
And if these two got bad blood and it creates, you know, kind of bad blood because the teams
28:20
got their guys back, I don't find anything wrong with that.
28:23
It speaks a lot to what we talked about, you know, on the first episode of the show like
28:28
that.
28:29
It makes the league better to watch and makes it a more watchable product when you have, a a
28:35
little bit of that, essence.
28:37
Now it's not to mean that these guys gotta go out and start throwing punches at one another.
28:42
Nobody wants to watch a couple of gangly seven footers, take swings on each other.
28:46
But, you you definitely wanna see it come out in the play and each one of them getting the
28:51
better of each other.
28:52
I I don't find anything wrong with that whatsoever.
28:55
I like it.
28:56
Right.
28:57
It just makes it fun Know...
29:00
Knowing these teams are gonna play each other for probably the next five, six years, it just
29:07
makes this rivalry fun because it's a legit rivalry.
29:10
Both teams are great.
29:12
Both teams are gonna see each other in the playoffs every single year.
29:16
It's just gonna be...
29:18
And depending whether...
29:20
We don't know.
29:21
Again, April 2, bring it up for another time today, second time.
29:25
If Chad will be on the team for how long because they might have to trade him or Jaylen
29:30
Williams.
29:31
However, for this time being, the Spurs Thunder rivalry is the number one rivalry in the
29:36
league, and it's legitimately a fun...
29:40
It's a fun watch.
29:45
I think this is gonna be great.
29:47
I...
29:47
I'm looking forward to it, Sully.
29:49
I I appreciate you kind of bringing me up to speed on on the NBA and and some of the
29:55
rivalries because I think that keeps a lot of us who have, and I think it's the same with any
29:59
sport.
30:00
You know?
30:00
People people have kids and and and and life happens.
30:04
Right?
30:04
And you may turn out for a little while, and getting back into it after a time can be really
30:09
hard because you are playing so much catch up.
30:12
Sully, without you, I I would have stayed completely tuned out of the NBA and wouldn't
30:16
know any of this.
30:17
So I...
30:18
I'm grateful to to have you and and to continue learning every single week and getting caught
30:25
back up to it to have a reason to tune in and to watch all of these games and, yeah, to kind
30:31
of have someone to guide me, if you will, in the process of catching back up.
30:38
Yeah.
30:38
I mean, like we said about it, like, on the first pod, like, I remember, like, my dad, I
30:43
think he...
30:44
He's one of those people, and I think Rob Lowe one time was like, the nineties basketball is
30:49
just better than today.
30:50
And one of the reasons I think people believe in the nineties were just better was because
30:54
they had, like, rivals.
30:56
They had legit rivalries where, like, people hated each other.
30:59
And I just think sport, in my opinion, no matter what it is, college football, college
31:04
basketball, NBA baseball, When the teams, like, actually hate each other, like, think in our
31:12
brains, we're tricked to believe what we're watching is better.
31:16
Now it it could be true or not, but it's like when the Yankees were playing the Red Sox in
31:21
the early two thousands and they hated each other, that was fun.
31:26
When the Knicks played the Miami Heat, when they played the Bulls, that was fun to me.
31:31
Like, I mean, I wasn't there, obviously.
31:33
But, like, when I watched, like, the the the classics, it just looks like an entertaining
31:40
product to me or, like, to...
31:42
Or, like, my classic example, like, Ohio State, Michigan football.
31:46
Like, why do I get hyped every Saturday after Thanksgiving?
31:49
It's because those two schools hate each other, and we're not speaking of each other's name,
31:56
and we're crossing out m's in every letter.
31:59
We're crossing out m's in every word on campus.
32:02
It's just like...
32:04
To actually have, like...
32:05
And one of the complaints people have had of the NBA is they think...
32:09
And they blame LeBron for this is they think the league became two buddy buddy.
32:14
Like, everybody was friends and, like, nobody really wanted to compete or beat each other.
32:20
I mean, I think it was kind of overblown.
32:22
However, the point was taken.
32:24
Like, when you actually despise your opponent and you don't wanna...
32:27
And you wanna just beat them, it just...
32:29
Because I think fans want you to care as much as they do whether or not it's valid or not.
32:37
Because I think players do care, and I just think sometimes, like, the...
32:41
As fans, they take it as, like, life or death to them, and they just wanna...
32:46
They want to know if you care as much as they do.
32:50
Come on.
32:51
A a fan being over the top and taking things too harshly or or celebrating a win, maybe a
32:58
little too much?
32:58
No.
32:59
That would never happen.
33:01
Right.
33:02
I mean...
33:04
Yeah.
33:04
I...
33:07
Yeah.
33:07
No.
33:08
You're you're not wrong.
33:09
I just...
33:09
I know, like, fandom is just a crazy thing.
33:13
I know I described it as a disease last night when was...
33:17
When I was asked about my jets fandom.
33:21
Yeah.
33:21
You you should probably see me during a football game.
33:24
It's...
33:24
It depends.
33:25
I...
33:26
I'm a pretty chill guy, laid back guy, but during Jets games, I could lose my mind at
33:30
times.
33:34
You're a fiery guy, man.
33:35
A lot of passion to you.
33:37
So I can see it getting a little, out of hand when your, when your team isn't playing up to a
33:43
level that you expect.
33:45
So, OKC and San Antonio, you think those are the two best teams in the West again heading
33:51
into this year, or are there, you know, are the Lakers gonna make some noise and have something
33:55
to say about that?
33:56
Could a team that went maybe a little bit further and competed, higher even though they
34:01
kinda dumped, half their roster, it felt like in the offseason, the Timberwolves, do get
34:07
LaMelo Ball over there.
34:09
You know?
34:09
Are there other teams in the West that might have something to say about, you know, pundits
34:14
calling OKC and San Antonio the top two?
34:19
So I do think the Thunder and the Spirits are gonna...
34:21
Are the favorite.
34:22
I just think with their combined level of talent and, like, experience, I think they're
34:29
the top two now.
34:31
However, at this point last year, no one would have set the Spurs last year at all.
34:35
Nobody.
34:36
So, like, there's a chance for somebody we're not talking about to come out of nowhere and
34:40
just, like, shock the West.
34:44
A couple teams.
34:45
I think the the Timberwolves are an interesting team because, historically, at least with
34:51
Anthony Edwards in their era, they're not really the greatest regular season team.
34:56
However, come postseason wise, you don't wanna play them because they are just a tough out,
35:02
and they're coached amazingly by their coach.
35:07
And then they have just a great player in Anthony Edwards.
35:10
The LaMelo ball pairing is obviously gonna be an interesting pairing in must watch television
35:18
every night, honestly.
35:22
But like I said before, I think the Rockets with Fred VanVliet could make some noise with
35:31
the thunder and the spurs if they stay healthy and, like...
35:35
There there were some chemistry problems last year.
35:39
We we don't know we don't know if, like, the team we don't know if the team is good team,
35:48
like, team wise.
35:48
Like...
35:49
So, like, we'll watch we'll watch as the season goes on to see if, like, they're good.
35:55
But I know there was, like, some reports about, like, chemistry having some problems, team
36:01
wise.
36:02
So, like...
36:03
But, like, there's a lot of talent on the team.
36:05
So if they can get it together, they have a great coach, I I think they can make some
36:11
noise.
36:13
I'm out on the bulls already.
36:15
They're down 30 in the second or down 20 in the second quarter.
36:20
Wolves and heats, fifty five fifty four Wolves.
36:24
That's about three minutes left in the second quarter.
36:27
Bucks over the Wizards with, you know, eight minutes left in the third.
36:32
The Hawks up big over the Magic by 10 in the third quarter as well.
36:36
So just a little bit of action around the league out there.
36:40
Couple of the late games, Mavericks versus Rockets, Warriors versus Lakers, Suns versus
36:45
Trailblazers, and Kings versus Clippers, coming up later tonight.
36:50
So a couple big games left on the slate, for the NBA as all the other teams get into action
36:56
tonight.
36:57
What are you looking forward to in the late slate of games, Sallie?
37:00
Any any one of those, intrigue you at all?
37:03
Oh, yeah.
37:05
Warriors, Lakers, for sure.
37:06
Luka versus Steph.
37:08
Luka Doncic, I don't know if I mentioned it on here.
37:10
It's my favorite player in the league.
37:12
Love watching them play.
37:14
It's his team now.
37:16
Always fun to watch Steph Curry play basketball.
37:19
So, like, whenever those two go up against each other, I'm locked in whenever those two play
37:29
each other.
37:30
So, like, I can't wait for the for the...
37:33
I can't wait for Lakers warriors tonight.
37:37
I will be asleep, Selly.
37:40
I...
37:40
West Coast games don't agree with me.
37:42
I'm too old to be staying up till midnight watching basketball, but I will do my best to
37:48
watch some of these condensed games, in the mornings and get caught up after the fact.
37:54
Great show as always, Sallie.
37:56
Really happy that, the season is going now.
37:59
We got basketball to watch.
38:01
I'm sure you're up way too late and consuming it way too early in the morning as well,
38:07
staying up to date, but that's why you are the perfect cohost and eventual host of this show.
38:14
It's more yours than mine, I feel like, at this point.
38:16
I'm just trying to keep this thing moving in the right direction.
38:20
Always a pleasure working with you, and happy to have you on the team here leading the
38:24
charge.
38:26
Yep.
38:26
Always happy to be here.
38:28
I'm just grateful for you plus the show.
38:32
Basketball starting up.
38:33
This is my favorite time of the year.
38:35
Every sport is happening right now.
38:38
Just a great time.
38:40
Everyone remember to subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
38:44
You can find the podcast versions of these, on our podcast, Scene Project Sports Network, and
38:50
listen to us talk on your commute.
38:52
Catch up on the day that was in the NBA.
38:56
We're gonna keep on doing this every single Wednesday at 7PM central, 08:00 out on the East
39:02
Coast.
39:02
We appreciate everybody tuning in with us.
39:04
For my cohost, Selly and O'Horo, I am Bubba Starts, and we will see you next Wednesday for
39:10
the next Rim Report.
39:11
Catch you guys later.